The memory of sharing the "suffering" and "emotional" meeting in Malta with a group of people abused by priests represents the only sad note, in Benedict XVI’s memories of his trip to Malta last Saturday and Sunday, which he shared today with pilgrims at his general audience.A visit to a "blessed people" marked for the most part by the joy of meetings with a population deeply rooted in the faith and example of St. Paul.
The reason behind the visit was the 1950th anniversary of the shipwreck of the Apostle on the island, where he remained about three months.
The journey, in the words of the Pope, gave him the opportunity to repeat the call “not to be afraid of the storms and shipwrecks of life, because God’s plan is greater than the storms and even shipwrecks”.
This message that he had first addressed to Maltese youth, he repeated this Wednesday to the 20 thousand people present in St Peter's Square.
The visit to Malta, also gave Benedict XVI, the opportunity to praise all those on the island who have responded to God’s call.
"Among these, many have embraced the missionary commitment ad gentes, in distant lands, inheriting the Apostolic spirit that impelled St. Paul to bring the Gospel to those places where it was unknown. And this is an aspect that I willingly reaffirmed, namely that faith is strengthened when it is offered to others".
A country upon which Benedict also impressed the need to welcome others, which should characterize all countries that have "Christian values at the roots of their Constitutional Charter and their cultures."
"It 's clear - he said - that Malta has often had to defend itself over the centuries - and you can tell from its fortifications. The strategic location of the small archipelago of course attracted the attention of several political and military powers. Yet the deepest vocation of Malta is Christian, namely the universal vocation of peace! The famous cross of Malta, which we all associated with that nation, has flown many times in the midst of conflict and strife, but, thank God, has never lost its true meaning and is the enduring sign of love and reconciliation and this is the true vocation of the people who accept and embrace the Christian message. "
And "the Maltese people know how to find answers to new challenges in the Christian vision of life. A sign of this, for example, is the fact they have held firm to their deep respect for unborn life and the sanctity of marriage, choosing not to introduce abortion and divorce to national legislation".
"A natural crossroads, Malta is at the heart of migration routes: men and women, just like St. Paul of long ago, land on the Maltese coast, sometimes driven by extremely difficult living conditions, violence and persecution, which means, of course, complex problems on a humanitarian, political and legal level, which have no easy solutions, but ones that must be sought, with perseverance and tenacity, through concerted action at an international level. An effort that must be made by all nations that have Christian values at the roots of their Constitutional Charter and their cultures. "
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